In this riotous young adult romp for fans of Recommended for You and A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow, a teen girl has the worst Valentine’s Day ever—only to relive it over and over again.
After living through a dumpster fire of a Valentine’s Day, Emilie Hornby escapes to her grandmother’s house for some comfort and a consolation pint of Ben & Jerry’s. She passes out on the couch, but when she wakes up, she’s back home in her own bed—and it’s Valentine’s Day all over again. And the next day? Another nightmare V-Day.
Emilie is stuck in some sort of time loop nightmare that she can’t wake up from as she re-watches her boyfriend, Josh, cheat on her day after day. In addition to Josh’s recurring infidelity, Emilie can’t get away from the enigmatic Nick, who she keeps running into—sometimes literally—in unfortunate ways.
How many days can one girl passively watch her life go up in flames? And when something good starts to come out of these terrible days, what happens when the universe stops doling out do-overs?
Introduction
Why is it that I can never seem to read books in their designated season? It’s as if I have a disorder where I simply cannot bring myself to read the synopsis; it’s there, but it might as well be invisible to me. If you’re a fan of the movie ‘Groundhog’s Day,’ or perhaps just a Bill Murray enthusiast, chances are you’ll enjoy this. This lively and cheerful young adult novel is perfect for capturing all the Valentine’s season feels, especially if you dive into it during February.
“I had a marvelous time ruining everything”
Overview
Meet Emilie, a brainy book nerd who has her entire life planned out until junior year. She prefers to navigate life through checkboxes and dislikes making mistakes. Her meticulous planning even extends to saying ‘I love you’ to her boyfriend Josh on Valentine’s Day, their three-month anniversary, and the same day Emilie’s parents got engaged. She yearns for nothing more than a perfect Valentine’s Day.
Then there is Josh, Emilie’s current boyfriend, who harbors lingering feelings for his ex. Despite attending the same school, Josh always appears one step ahead of Emilie, who believes he’s the ideal boyfriend, ticking off every box on her list. What Emilie doesn’t know, until their supposedly ‘perfect’ Valentine’s Day, is that Josh is cheating on her with his ex.
Then there’s Nick, Emilie’s chemistry lab partner, who seems to mysteriously appear everywhere. Nick is quiet and enigmatic, and Emilie can’t help but ponder their interactions as she keeps running into him.
As Emilie grapples with the revelation of her cheating boyfriend and the enigmatic reappearance of Nick, she must confront her pursuit of perfection.
“Don’t you think it’s weird that before today–‘
‘We didn’t really know each other, and now it feels like we’ve known each other for years?”
Thoughts
One of the aspects I truly appreciate about this story is how relatable the characters are for most of us. Emilie’s struggle to break free from her meticulously planned and checkbox-filled life is something many can relate to. It’s not until she breaks free from her self-imposed mold that things start to improve, making this one of the most empowering YA novels I’ve read in a while.
Additionally, I found the use of the grumpy/sunshine trope in this novel quite enjoyable. Emilie embodies the sunshine perspective, while Nick, who has experienced traumas, brings a more real-world outlook to life, though he carries the weight of grief. Nick’s character is well-developed, and what’s interesting is that both characters couldn’t break out of their fixed molds until they were forced together.
The character growth was organic and not rushed, especially due to Emilie’s day repeating, which prevented the use of the insta-love trope. Nick had time to reflect on his feelings and how he could change.
Lastly, Emilie’s decision to establish a barrier between herself and Nick after he distanced himself post-DNC is a noteworthy element. This aspect isn’t explored enough in YA literature. It illustrates Emilie’s newfound self-value and prioritization of her own happiness, which she vocalizes in the book and actively puts into practice. It’s a significant message for young adults who are often pressured to please others at the expense of their own happiness.
“I know that I’m the only one who truly cares about my happiness, so I make it a priority”
Conclusion
I highly recommend this book to young adult readers. The romance is well-balanced, and the message is compelling. I particularly appreciate how it challenges the ideals of perfectionism and emphasizes the importance of standing up for oneself. This book is truly empowering. Just maybe read this one on Valentine’s Day to get the true effect.
Trigger Warnings
Content warnings in the realm of fantasy literature often tread a curious path, yet I find it necessary to illuminate aspects that could serve as potential triggers for fellow readers. Be advised that these warnings should be taken with care as I am not a licensed therapist and in no way could I identify everything. The following is what stuck out to me and other readers and might contain spoilers.
Warning
Grief – The MC’s love interest deals with intense and crippling grief from the loss of a loved one.
Warning
Death of loved ones – One of the main characters has lost a loved one in the past.
Tropes in the Story:
- Emotional Scars
- Good Girl/Bad Boy
- Grumpy/ Sunshine
- Forced Proximity
